SYDNEY, August 29, 2025 – A Sydney bookseller’s off-the-cuff proposal sparked a surprising emotional journey for one reader seeking to break a frustrating cycle of reading highs and lows.The suggestion? Rabih Alameddine’s The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother), a novel that unexpectedly delivered tears and a renewed thankfulness for stories outside a typical reading comfort zone.
Breaking the Bookstagram Bubble
Finding new reads when algorithms and tropes take over can be surprisingly emotional.
- Many readers fall into patterns of choosing books based on online recommendations, leading to predictable reading experiences.
- Seeking recommendations from booksellers can introduce readers to unexpected and emotionally resonant stories.
- Literary fiction and translated works can offer a powerful option to genre-focused reading habits.
- Sometimes, the best books are the ones you wouldn’t normally pick up.
The quest began with a familiar frustration: a reading slump following an intense binge. “I’m stuck in a reading-binge-then-slump cycle, and I need out!” the reader explained, seeking help at Gleebooks in Sydney. The problem, it turned out, was a reliance on Bookstagram and booktube recommendations, leading to a predictable selection of trope-filled fantasies.
What can readers do when stuck in a reading rut? Diversifying recommendations by turning to booksellers-and embracing books outside of established preferences-can reignite a passion for reading.
Jennifer, a bookseller at gleebooks, instantly offered a suggestion: Benjamin Wood’s Seascraper, a story set around Liverpool in the 1960s. But it was a green-covered novel that truly caught the reader’s eye: The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother), which jennifer described simply as “charming.”
The reader, previously focused on fantasy fiction, found themselves deeply moved by Alameddine’s work. “It wasn’t what I usually go for at all,” they saeid. “But it was gorgeous, heartbreaking, and funny all at once. It reminded me that books can do so much more than just entertain.”
This experience has prompted a shift in reading habits. The reader Goodreads profile, once dominated by epic fantasy, now includes a growing list of literary fiction and translated works. There are even plans to return to fantasy fiction but with a newfound appreciation for the unexpected emotional depths found in literary and translated works. The experiment proved that sometimes, the most rewarding reads are the ones you never knew you needed.
